John Dollin Printing Services produced the first sheets from its HP Indigo 100k, only the second of the B2 digital presses in the UK, on Friday last week as the transformation of a one-time family owned business continues.
Its installation will be followed by upgrades to the finishing departments, improvements to broadband connectivity and installation of a second XL75 over the summer. JDP owner, Venn Holdings, is also eyeing its second acquisition, one that will dovetail with JDP, says director Anthony Thirlby. It could be announced in the coming weeks, he adds.
The decision to invest in the high speed Indigo, capable or 6,000sph when printing in CMY only Enhanced Productivity Mode, was not planned, says Thirlby. After acquiring John Dollin Print, which ran an Indigo 12000 alongside and Indigo 7600, the new owners met HP’s team.
At that meeting, HP Indigo’s UK and Ireland country manager Peter Jolly explained about the new press. “They started talking about the 100k and how we might make the commercial model work. We want to standardise on the four-page format and my gut instinct is that this is where the opportunities will be coming,” says Thirlby.
“I’ve seen the Indigo 10000 and 12000 installed at a number of printers around the world, sometimes perhaps too soon. The 100k is much more market ready.” It is also, he says, beautiful to look at “and it takes a lot to impress me. This is the right machine for us, increasing output without seriously upping the labour cost.”
The 100k will run SRA2 paper as standard and will be dedicated to commoditised commercial products. The 12000 will be fitted with the kit to handle thicker substrates to enable it to take on cartons and more specialised jobs to address the creative market. The 7900, like the Speedmaster SM52 and XL105, will go.
The boost in B2 sheet production has spurred investment in a Horizon StitchLiner and PUR perfect binder. These are needed as soon as IFS can delivery, Thirlby says.
Venn has been approached by numerous potential sales staff and has signed up 35 new customers in the last two weeks, including some contractual work. That will provide volume for the expanded capacity, which is to be divided across the three buildings that JDP operates from: litho in one unit, the 100k in another and the 12000 for creative print in the third, each with the matched finishing equipment and managed through an expanded technology platform.
